1559 
about 8 feet apart. On top of these is arranged a lat- 
ticework of light canes placed horizontally. The dis- 
tance between the canes is quite variable, but is rarely- 
more than a foot. The vines extend horizontally over 
this framework, and the fruits hang down through it, 
where they are easily seen and easily gathered. The 
size of the arbor is quite variable ; for a single 'hill' 
of chayotes it may sometimes be as much as 25 feet In 
diameter, and often several hills are planted under a 
common arbor 30 to 40 feet square. 
"No tillage is given the soil around the base of 
the plant, but water is applied frequently in the re- 
gions where rainfall is not abundant. At Santa Maria 
it is said to be the custom to pour a bucket of water 
upon each hill every day. 
"The hill once started will last several years, 
If not dug for the tubers. These are ready for using 
at the end of the second season. 
"The fruits commence to mature in September . They 
are most abundant in November and December, but there 
are still quite a few in the markets as late as the 
first of March. The Indians do not like to pick chayotes 
until they are fully ' mature , as they contend that the 
fruits havemuchmore flavor at this time than when eaten 
half -grown or immature. Maturity is Indicated by the 
appearance of the cotyledons in the slit at the apex 
of the fruit. The young sprout also makes its appearance 
while the fruit is still on the vine . The Indians of Santa 
Maria break of f the plumule with the finger nail before 
taking the fruit to market In Guatemala City or Antigua, 
so that it cannot be used for planting. They fear that 
chayotes will be grown in other places and they will 
no longer have a market for their product. 
"The mature fruit, when picked, will keep for two 
or three weeks in good condition. If laid away for a 
longer time, it gradually shrivels and sends out sprouts . 
By destroying the plumule, so that the fruit can not 
sprout, and burying 1 1 in the ground, the" Indians claim 
to keep chayotes in good condition for two months. 
"The picking season extends over several months, 
and a large amount of fruit is produced by most varieties . 
Undoubtedly the different varieties vary in produc- 
tiveness, yet all of those which are commonly grown 
in the highlands seem to be satisfactorily productive. 
"After the plant has dried up and the fruit has 
all been harvested, the ' ichlntal' , or tuber, maybe dug 
if the second season of growth has been completed. 
Since the tubers bring a relatively high price in the 
